Quick summary
As of October 1, 2025, all foreign visitors arriving in Taiwan by air must complete the online Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) before immigration clearance. The paper form is eliminated. Visa-exempt travelers from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, and New Zealand must submit the digital declaration at twac.immigration.gov.tw up to two days before arrival.
The form takes 3–5 minutes to complete and supports passport photo auto-fill. Same-day submission is permitted but risks immigration delays if Wi-Fi access fails. The system went live in May 2025 with 70% voluntary adoption before the mandate took effect.
Taiwan has joined Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore in eliminating paper arrival cards. The National Immigration Agency launched the mandatory digital system to reduce processing times and align with regional border automation trends.
The change affects all short-term air arrivals, including visa-exempt nationals and short-term visa holders. Transit passengers remaining airside and long-term residents with Alien Resident Certificates are exempt.
Travelers must provide the same information previously collected on paper: passport details, flight itinerary, Taiwan accommodation address, occupation, and contact phone number. No visa requirements change — the TWAC replaces only the physical form.
The submission window opens two days before arrival. A confirmation email with barcode is sent upon completion, though immigration officers retrieve data via passport scan rather than barcode presentation.
How the digital system works
The TWAC portal at twac.immigration.gov.tw supports English and Chinese interfaces, with guidance available in Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian. Desktop users can submit up to 16 travelers in one session; mobile users are limited to 10.
Passport photo upload triggers auto-fill for name, nationality, and document number. Manual entry is required for flight details, accommodation address, and occupation. The form remains editable after submission using the Arrival Card Number, date of birth, passport number, and nationality.
QR code links to the portal appear on flights and at origin airports. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport provides free Wi-Fi and assistance devices for travelers who arrive without completing the form, though same-day submission during peak hours creates queue risk.
| Traveler type | TWAC required | Submission window | Exemptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt (US/EU/AU/NZ) | Yes | Up to 2 days before arrival | None |
| Short-term visa holders | Yes | Up to 2 days before arrival | None |
| Hong Kong/Macao permit holders | Yes | Up to 2 days before arrival | None |
| Transit passengers (airside) | No | N/A | No immigration clearance |
| Long-term residents (ARC holders) | No | N/A | Resident status |
The Ministry of Interior reports the system processed 70% of arrivals digitally during the voluntary phase from May to September 2025. Paper forms are now available only in exceptional circumstances, such as system outages or technical failures.
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Regional digital border trend
Taiwan’s mandate follows similar moves across Asia-Pacific. Thailand introduced the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) in December 2024, Malaysia launched the MDAC in 2023, and Indonesia rolled out its e-Arrival Card in 2022. Singapore’s SG Arrival Card has been mandatory since 2020.
All systems share the same logic: shift data collection from airport counters to pre-departure online submission. The efficiency gain is measurable — Thailand reported 30% faster immigration processing after TDAC adoption exceeded 70%.
For US, European, and Australasian travelers, this adds a 3–5 minute pre-trip task to every Asia-Pacific itinerary. The trade-off is shorter queues at arrival, though the benefit depends on airport infrastructure and peak-hour volumes. Taiwan’s system mirrors Thailand’s in design: no fee, mobile-friendly, and passport-scan retrieval at immigration.
The shift also eliminates in-flight paper distribution, reducing airline costs and environmental waste. EVA Air and China Airlines removed arrival card stock from long-haul flights in September 2025. Travelers accustomed to filling forms during descent now face a pre-departure deadline instead.
Air Traveler Club’s flight options to Taiwan from Europe include nonstop services from London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Vienna, with typical fares ranging $650–$950 in economy.
Steps to complete the form
The TWAC is mandatory for all visa-exempt travelers from the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand arriving by air from October 1, 2025. Paper forms are no longer distributed.
- Submit 2 days before arrival: Visit twac.immigration.gov.tw and create an account using your email. Upload a passport photo to auto-fill name and document number.
- Enter flight and accommodation details: Provide your inbound flight number, arrival date, Taiwan hotel address, and local contact phone number. Occupation field is mandatory.
- Save the confirmation email: A barcode is sent upon submission. Store it offline in case of airport Wi-Fi failure, though immigration retrieves data via passport scan.
- For groups, use desktop: One submitter can enter up to 16 travelers on desktop or 10 on mobile. Each traveler needs their own passport details ready.
- Edit if plans change: Use the Arrival Card Number, date of birth, passport number, and nationality to access the form and update flight or hotel information. Changes sync in 10–15 minutes.
Watch: Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency is piloting facial recognition gates at Taoyuan for visa-exempt nationals — if rolled out in 2026, the TWAC may integrate with biometric clearance for sub-30-second processing.
Questions? Answers.
Can I submit the TWAC on my arrival day?
Yes, same-day submission is permitted, but you must complete it before reaching immigration. QR code links are available on flights and at origin airports, and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport provides free Wi-Fi and assistance devices. However, same-day submission during peak hours risks delays if Wi-Fi is congested or queues are long. Submit 48 hours in advance to avoid this risk.
What if I don’t have a smartphone or internet access?
Assistance devices and free Wi-Fi are available at Taiwan’s arrival airports, including Taoyuan, Taipei Songshan, Kaohsiung, and Taichung. Paper forms are provided only in exceptional circumstances, such as system outages or technical failures. If you lack digital access, plan to use airport resources, but expect longer processing times during peak hours. Submitting the form before departure eliminates this concern.
Does the TWAC apply to sea or land entry?
The TWAC is mandatory for all immigration clearance, including seaports. While the system is primarily designed for air arrivals, seaport terminals provide QR code links and Wi-Fi support for travelers arriving by cruise or ferry. Land border crossings from Mainland China (Kinmen, Matsu) follow separate entry procedures and do not use the TWAC system.
Do I need to print the confirmation email?
No. Immigration officers retrieve your TWAC data by scanning your passport, not the barcode in the confirmation email. However, saving the email to your phone’s offline storage is recommended as backup proof in case the system shows no record of your submission. This is rare but possible during system maintenance windows.
Can I use the TWAC for multiple Taiwan trips?
No. Each arrival requires a new TWAC submission. The form is valid only for the specific arrival date and flight you enter during submission. If you visit Taiwan multiple times per year, you must complete a new form within two days before each arrival. The system does not store previous submissions for reuse.
